I'm a new proud Dad of a premature baby but I'm scared. I need somebody who's been there to tell me things will be okay (I've been telling my wife that but I need to hear it myself).
My sos's cuurent state is summarized in the subject, but I'll provide more detail below:
1. My son was born at 35 weeks 0 days following 3 weeks of my wife's in hospital bed rest and iv treatment (some sort of meds to stop labor)
2. The meds were stop at 35 weeks (by that point my wife's water had slightly broke) and labor started within a few hours
3. The baby came out and he was blue and did not cry. The doctor told me it was mild asphixia (I'm in Tokyo and this is all in Japanese -- the direct translation of the medical term given to me is "light temporary death of new born infant") APGAR score at one minute was 1 and at five minutes it was 7
4. He was given oxygen to help him breath and a glucose drip (maybe some other drugs too, but things were happening so fast). The oxygen tube has been removed but he's still on the glucose drip
5. He's docent seem to have a big appetite. At first it was looking pronissing so the doctor removed the feeding tube, but after only a day he was falling asleep during feeding. Now he drinks about 18cc on his own and 12cc from the tube
6. He has tremors or shakes or spasms that look like he's cold or scared. These are accompanied by much yawning and leg and arm stretching
7. He showed signs of jaundice so he's been under a purple lamp for 2 days
The nurses and the doctors tell me that other babies have it worse of than mine (this docent make me happy, just sad and broken hearted for the other babies as well as my own). That said, if there's anybody here who has gone through what we are going through AND has had a happy ending (e.g, their baby is perfect now, not late in development, admitted into the gifted and talented program) I would love to here about it.
Also, any encouraging comments related to my experience above would be greatly appreciated. But please, no horror stories.
Note: I typed this on my mobile from Hospital waiting room -- sorry for any typos.
My sos's cuurent state is summarized in the subject, but I'll provide more detail below:
1. My son was born at 35 weeks 0 days following 3 weeks of my wife's in hospital bed rest and iv treatment (some sort of meds to stop labor)
2. The meds were stop at 35 weeks (by that point my wife's water had slightly broke) and labor started within a few hours
3. The baby came out and he was blue and did not cry. The doctor told me it was mild asphixia (I'm in Tokyo and this is all in Japanese -- the direct translation of the medical term given to me is "light temporary death of new born infant") APGAR score at one minute was 1 and at five minutes it was 7
4. He was given oxygen to help him breath and a glucose drip (maybe some other drugs too, but things were happening so fast). The oxygen tube has been removed but he's still on the glucose drip
5. He's docent seem to have a big appetite. At first it was looking pronissing so the doctor removed the feeding tube, but after only a day he was falling asleep during feeding. Now he drinks about 18cc on his own and 12cc from the tube
6. He has tremors or shakes or spasms that look like he's cold or scared. These are accompanied by much yawning and leg and arm stretching
7. He showed signs of jaundice so he's been under a purple lamp for 2 days
The nurses and the doctors tell me that other babies have it worse of than mine (this docent make me happy, just sad and broken hearted for the other babies as well as my own). That said, if there's anybody here who has gone through what we are going through AND has had a happy ending (e.g, their baby is perfect now, not late in development, admitted into the gifted and talented program) I would love to here about it.
Also, any encouraging comments related to my experience above would be greatly appreciated. But please, no horror stories.
Note: I typed this on my mobile from Hospital waiting room -- sorry for any typos.
but we are here to help so feel free to stick around!!!! Xxx
) and that was In 1986 in a hospital not exactly equipped for preemies! My mum did a lot of things the nurses are meant to do, bloods etc.... My Dad often gets sentimental when drunk and tells me how I weighed less than a bag of sugar and had jaundice too!
